Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-12-16
Our Next Door Neighbor.
BY ADELAIDE D. RoLLsToN.

ueCiare, us just TOO provoking. -
cried Bess, seating herself by the win
dow, and tanning herself vigorously with
her straw hat.
"What's the matter nowl" l asked,
looking up from my easel
Il infer from your tone that there is
always something the matter" she said,
pettishly, and with something like a
tear in her eye
81 believe there is, dear at least, there
seems to be lately" l remarked, making
little daubs of paint on my palette as |
spoke. "Bess, don't you think I've
made my sky tribe too blue" asked,
changing the sub. ect abruptly, for was
beginning to dread these sudden out
bursts of temper from my usually good
uatured sister.
"Oh, it's all very we'll for you to treat
my troubles lightly" cried Bess, ready
to burst into tears. "You didn't make
the flower beds, and you don't mind if
they are spoiled! You don't waste your
time and breath these warm mornings
chasing chickens out of tie yard ~,
$50 it's the chickens this time r' / said,
laughing. Yesterday it was the geese,
and the day before the pigs l wonder
what it will be tomorrow
81 wish you'd be sensible, Fam" and
Bess came over and took the brush and
palette out of my hand. "There |" and
she threw them on the table. "I've a
good mind to spoil your picture for treat
ing me as if were little childn
''1'm sure l am as sorry as you are
about the tlower-beds, but what are we
to do2" l asked. "Wc are careful to
keep the gates fastened, and we've
stopped all the cracks in the fence; but
somehow the pigs, chickens and geese
manage to get in. I sometimes think
they're bewitched. One thing is certain
we can't spend our whole time driving
them out, or in fretting about them"
"My mignonette was coming up so
nicely" said Bess, with sigh. "And
l was thinking I'd set out my geraniums
to-day. l wish you could see them,
Fam I found them lying by the porch,
as brown and wiIted as weeds in autumn.
People who live in town have no business
with chickens and such things. If they
want to raise poultry, let them move to
the country. Why don't those chickens
scratch around in Mrs. Browns garden,
l wonder? l look at her towers and
vegetables, growing so nicely, and then at
mine, scattered to the four winds; and
think sic is the mot disagreeable old
woman in the world. She saw me throw
stone at her old rooster this morning,
and called out over the fence that I'd
better let her property alone"
81 hope you said nothing saucy to her
you are SO hasty, Bess!' I said,
reprovingly.
II to d her to keep her chickens out
of my yard, if she didn't want them
killed." said Bess, looking defantly out
of the window.
90 Bess, you'lmal Ike matters worse,
if you go on at that rate" l cried, as |
thought OF our neighbours sharp face and
sharper tongue. If you should happen
to kill one OF her chickens, kelly as not
she'd have YOU arrested. She's Just the
sort of woman to do it"
81 know something about the law
replied Bess, shaking her head angrilv.
"No one has light to keep anything that
is source of annoyance to his or her
neighbor. If those chickens persist in
scratching up my flower beds, and if
Mrs. Brown makes no effort to keep them
at home, l shall certainly kill them"
You shall do nothing of the kind "
said, as gathered up my brushes and
put my easel away.
Fan, haven told you half" said
Bess. You know how anxious am to
learn to be a good housekeeper, and an
economical one. I'm sure Sally is a
good cook, and is very saving might
put it little stronger, and say that shes
stingy cook, for she often makes lis GO
without dessert when we might as wei
have one every day. But in spite OF
pinthing and saving our expenses are
greater than they were a month ago"
" Well, you can't blame our neighbol
for that, can you?" l asked, wondering
what pc sib'e connection Mrs. Brown and
the pigs and geese and chickens coulC
have with our household expenses.
|" Your Ignorance or innocence, which
ever it is, is certainly sublime" sale
Bess, with lofty smile. Don't yor
know that Mrs. Brown is contin Lally
borrowing, and never paying back9"
"Why, no; | had no idea she hat
ever borrowed anything" said in grea
surprise.
Because you're blind to everybody
and everything except your music class
and your painting" said Bess, in an in
jured tone. "Why, she's borrowed sugar
and coffee and flour and lard and the MOI
and fiat iron oh, can't begin to tel
you what she has borrowed, ond I'm get
ting tired of it We can't keep up TIVE
families, that's certain"
Cant you find a way to refuse with
out offending herr" 1 asked, littl,
vaguely.
| had had no experience at housekeep
ing, and since coming to the cottage
had depended entirely upon Bcss, who
though two years younger than myself
was CT n more practical turn of mind
and had gladly taken upon her younl
shoulders the whole responsibility of do
mt site affairs.
81 did refuse once or twice, but sht
keeps on sending" said Bess, with
sigh. "And she gets what she wants a
last, for l let her have it just to get riC
of her. Yesterday it was a quart OF flour
and the day before it was a little butter
and when l politely informed her tina
she already owed me pound of butter
she said she'd be certain to send bacl
everything she owed me this morning
but she hasn't, and we can't go on at thi
rate much longer. She won't take
hint, and if l fatty refuse to lend he
anything more, she'll be sure to do al
she can to annoy u.s."
"And we were just beginning to ge
along so nicely~ said, looking arounc
at the coy room. at will never do t
complain to Uncle Robert" I went on
for you know he said if we were de
termined to work for living. that "